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Age of Empires 2 is quietly having an incredible year

There likely has never been a more vibrant community around this 21-year-old game.

Nearly 21 years after release, Age of Empires 2 could well be having its best year ever. Since its HD re-release in 2013 the game has had a steady growth in average player count, but with the release of Age of Empires 2: Definitive edition last year and COVID-19 lockdowns inflating player counts across the industry, Age of Empires 2 is boasting totals that beat some very big-name games. It’s now by far Steam’s most popular RTS, with both the Definitive Edition and the 2013 HD Edition having higher player counts than closest competitor Company of Heroes 2. This year's big tournament boasted the largest Age of Empires 1v1 prize pool since 2002.

Here's an older video i found concerning plans for the AoE franchise. Now that AoE: DE is an incredible success, i'm expecting a lot of care to be put into Age of Empires 3: Definitive Edition as well.



Last month, in April, the games’ combined average player count was over 50,000 players. April 12 was the definitive edition’s all-time player peak, and the combined total of the games was 59,995 players. That’s well into the top 150 all-time peak player counts on Steam… for a 21-year-old game. The two games generally average higher player counts than popular free-to-play game War Thunder or industry darling Stardew Valley. They’re on-par with the popular action RPG Path of Exile.

Their average is nearly as many as perennially popular premium games like Civilization VI or Terraria. Both versions of Age of Empires 2 sit in the top 100 games on Steam, with the Definitive Edition sitting at #25. Combined, however, the Age of Empires community on average pushes up to the #15 spot—or higher, on peak player count days.

To give you an idea of the scale at work here, Age of Empires 2 sold some 1.5 million copies in the three years surrounding its North American release. Last year, the studio behind the game said that a million people per month were still playing Age of Empires games… and that’s before the huge spike in players this year has seen.

Age of Empires 2: Definitive Edition launched last year, and our Fraser Brown quite liked it. Age of Empires 4 is in development and scheduled to release in 2020 or later.

Article from PC Gamer - https://www.pcgamer.com/age-of-empires-2-is-quietly-having-an-incredible-year/
 

Lucumo

Member
Meh, scene used to be better before Microsoft started milking the game more and more and moved control away from the players. Also, best tournament was, of course, "War is Coming".
 
This is one of those games that I will always come back and play every once in a while. I used to be hardcore into AOE. I even started a clan (Strider) that became one of the biggest in AOE after I left due to life issues... Man, I remember day after day of tryouts and choosing who could join. At one point it was all I ever did for weeks during summer because I was constantly flooded with requests... Can't believe our piece of junk Gateway handled that.
 
Steam offers the definitive edition bundled with the HD edition.. Is there any point to owning both?

No, i can't see any point. DE is a much better product it's not even close.

I love Age of Empires and 2 is my favorite.

Happy to know that the DE is doing great!

Can't wait for IV. :messenger_smiling_hearts:

AoE III is a strong favorite of mine because i played that obsessively wen it released, but i haven't played it in a very long time. I am eagerly waiting for AoE III: Definitive Edition since that will most likely include the expansions which i haven't even touched at all. I really liked that game for its fantastic campaign, and i never bothered with multiplayer because i generally don't care about that in real time strategy games.
 

Andodalf

Banned
And these assholes can't even release a fucking updated trailer in there xbox conference.

It's a first party game, and you're upset it wasn't at the third party showcase?

The support they've shown the RTS backlog is amazing, seeing games like this and Age of mythology receive love in 2020 is something that would've blown my mind as a kid
 

Kenpachii

Member
It's a first party game, and you're upset it wasn't at the third party showcase?

The support they've shown the RTS backlog is amazing, seeing games like this and Age of mythology receive love in 2020 is something that would've blown my mind as a kid

U call a age of mythology port and 300 age of empire 2 remasters amazing? What a joke. We should be sitting at age of empire 10 by now.

The event was a showcase of xbox gameplay and that's what they stated, obviously age of empire 4 is already baking for a while so it made only sense as its there own studio to showcase some of it, it probably will also feature itself on the xbox.

They failed hard at delivering.
 
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Aion002

Member
No, i can't see any point. DE is a much better product it's not even close.



AoE III is a strong favorite of mine because i played that obsessively wen it released, but i haven't played it in a very long time. I am eagerly waiting for AoE III: Definitive Edition since that will most likely include the expansions which i haven't even touched at all. I really liked that game for its fantastic campaign, and i never bothered with multiplayer because i generally don't care about that in real time strategy games.
I am quite the opposite. I love the skimirsh and mp modes and I never tried the campaign.

I don't think I ever finished a campaing mode from an RTS. :messenger_grinning_sweat:

For me, the fun part of any RTS is to make bases and manage resources, while buinding an army to defend and attack... I am so in to that, that many times after almost defeating the AI or players, I give them resources so they can try it again. :messenger_tears_of_joy:

Age 3 expansions are nice, the civilizations at least. However, I think that 3 is the Age that I least played, the mp was a little boring I hope that they improve it.
 

HE1NZ

Banned
New DLC is happening!

Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition - Lords of the West is an upcoming expansion for Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition, set for release on January 26, 2021. It features two new civilizations based on historical kingdoms, the Burgundians and Sicilians, three new campaigns, and adds new achievements.

 

HE1NZ

Banned
The esports scene of aoe2 is still growing well, more viewers and bigger price pool YoY.
I only play campaigns myself, but I agree. Watched some Red Bull tournament or something, it's quite tense. High level play in this game is nuts.
 
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